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Plating Frames...
Posted: 14 Oct 2014, 9:25pm
by townbikemark
Now, on Facebook, via Kinetics (Nickle) and the Guardian (24 carat gold), there's been some Bromptons with plated frames. Have to say, they look rather spiffing...nickle's practical - it's used for handguns and gold would be well, different and I understand, would only cost £400 to strip and plate...
Anyone got a plated frame/considering one...?
Re: Plating Frames...
Posted: 14 Oct 2014, 9:32pm
by gaz
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Re: Plating Frames...
Posted: 14 Oct 2014, 9:58pm
by Brucey
If you are Nickel plating then you are usually basically doing all of a chrome plating operation bar the last fifteen minutes. The exception to this would be electroless nickel plate which is a slightly different kettle of fish. However Ni plate always shows up any surface irregularities rather badly. This is usually mitigated by polishing frenziedly to make the surface as smooth as possible before plating.
Plated frames have a far higher risk of cracking; in part because the polishing very simply makes the metal thinner, in part because any plating residues can corrode the inside of the tube, and in part because the plating process can encourage hydrogen embrittlement in any hard HAZ regions in a steel frame.
A friend has really exceptionally rare SBDU 753 frame which I think was originally used by Raleigh/Sturmey Archer for display work. It is copper plated with a clear coat to retain the shine. I guess it is 20 years old or more now; my chum uses it for touring in the summertime. The finish was absolutely perfect when the frame was new; they must have been so careful with the polishing!
Peugeot went through a phase of chrome plating the chainstays on 753 frames but they must have had a few breakages because they stopped doing it after a few years. This was despite the fact that the chrome finish was not perfect; I think they deliberately tried to avoid polishing it too much in case the frame was weakened through thinning.
If you have a used frame plated, most frame refinishers will make it abundantly clear that this is 'at your own risk' i.e. there are no comebacks if the frame cracks later on. Another friend had a CInelli which looked beautiful when refinished but it cracked mere weeks later; there was hardly any metal left where it has been polished too much, in a bid to remove superficial corrosion damage.
cheers
Re: Plating Frames...
Posted: 15 Oct 2014, 8:43am
by mrjemm
I've got an old Orange P7 frame that I believe is nickel plated. Tis a bit tatty, and I can't really see the benefit over bare metal, though of course, being steel, there will be some, though I'd guess paint more effective.
I have for some time fancied a rough galvanised finish, just to be different, but not had one done yet. The other one that I thought could be nice is copper, though it could edge towards tacky, but nowhere near as tacky as gold (ewww. After all, I am from Suffolk, not Essex...
). I think I've seen pics of both in the past, but not sure.
Re: Plating Frames...
Posted: 15 Oct 2014, 8:43pm
by mattsccm
I have been tempted by galv as I can get it easily done. No idea if there would be problems attached to doing it.
Re: Plating Frames...
Posted: 16 Oct 2014, 12:57pm
by fastpedaller
mattsccm wrote:I have been tempted by galv as I can get it easily done. No idea if there would be problems attached to doing it.
If you hot dip galvanise it you'll probably wreck it! If electroplating then the same issue (wet/corrosive chemicals in tubes) as with other plated finishes - although presumably it wouldn't need all the polishing which thins the tubes prior to plating
Re: Plating Frames...
Posted: 16 Oct 2014, 4:13pm
by mercalia
re chrome-nickel plating. I used to work in a metal finishing plant just after leaving school. one of jobs they did was chrome -nickel plating bits and pieces for the pram business. Its a really nasty process, using chromic acid derivative I believe - the guy who did the job was a sullen so and so, no wonder due to the ulcers if any of the stuff splashed on his skin ( well was a long time ago before rules ). Chrome plating is in fact (semi) transparent - the silver is the nickel underneath. I remember getting a good chrome plating was very difficult with many runs being rejected ( bad chrome plating even pinpricks = rust vectors) Dont know how it is these days, but after seeing the baths they put the prams tubes thru I wouldnt let a precious frame go thru that!.
Re: Plating Frames...
Posted: 17 Oct 2014, 12:45pm
by townbikemark
Brucey wrote:If you are Nickel plating then you are usually basically doing all of a chrome plating operation bar the last fifteen minutes. The exception to this would be electroless nickel plate which is a slightly different kettle of fish. However Ni plate always shows up any surface irregularities rather badly. This is usually mitigated by polishing frenziedly to make the surface as smooth as possible before plating.
Plated frames have a far higher risk of cracking; in part because the polishing very simply makes the metal thinner, in part because any plating residues can corrode the inside of the tube, and in part because the plating process can encourage hydrogen embrittlement in any hard HAZ regions in a steel frame.
A friend has really exceptionally rare SBDU 753 frame which I think was originally used by Raleigh/Sturmey Archer for display work. It is copper plated with a clear coat to retain the shine. I guess it is 20 years old or more now; my chum uses it for touring in the summertime. The finish was absolutely perfect when the frame was new; they must have been so careful with the polishing!
Peugeot went through a phase of chrome plating the chainstays on 753 frames but they must have had a few breakages because they stopped doing it after a few years. This was despite the fact that the chrome finish was not perfect; I think they de, liberately tried to avoid polishing it too much in case the frame was weakened through thinning.
If you have a used frame plated, most frame refinishers will make it abundantly clear that this is 'at your own risk' i.e. there are no comebacks if the frame cracks later on. Another friend had a CInelli which looked beautiful when refinished but it cracked mere weeks later; there was hardly any metal left where it has been polished too much, in a bid to remove superficial corrosion damage.
cheers
Cheers - a typically encyclopedic answer from yourself!
I think the drawbacks to plating or any other unusual materials/processes (wood, copper etc) are less likely to apply to the bikes that I have in mind as whilst I certainly intend to ride them regularly, I don't plan to subject them to the extreme conditions and usage where said finish/material would be impractical. This also applies to the type of bike - I wouldn't ride my Gazelle Toer Populaire for 20 miles straight, for example, though I do ride it several times a week.
Re: Plating Frames...
Posted: 17 Oct 2014, 1:53pm
by Mick F
Thought you'd like to see this from 1992 Mercian.
Re: Plating Frames...
Posted: 24 Jun 2015, 5:54pm
by TimP
I had a 1970s frame and forks chromed about 25 years ago. I still use the bike today but it is beginning to rust now. I live in a country with extremely high humidity so I reckon 25 years isn't bad. I might re-chrome plate it again soon.